Solar Sharer launches in NSW, SEQ, and South Australia

What is Solar Sharer?

It's a new program called the Solar Sharer Offer. For at least three hours every day, the electricity you use costs you nothing. The free hours fall in the middle of the day, but the exact hours are slightly different depending on your region.

• In New South Wales, you can get free electricity between 11 AM and 2 PM
• In Southeast Queensland, you can get free electricity between 11 AM and 2 PM
• In South Australia, you can get free electricity between 12 PM and 3 PM.

You don't need solar panels to sign up

The free window comes from your retailer, not from your roof. You don't need panels, and you don't need to own your home.

The number of solar panels in Australia mean there is a surplus of energy during the day — which is why electricity can be offered for free. For years, solar has only benefited the households who could install panels. This offer is designed to spread the benefit to everyone.

Who is eligible for Solar Sharer?

You can sign up to a Solar Sharer plan:

• you live in NSW, south-east Queensland or South Australia
• you have a smart meter. If someone still comes round to read your meter, it'll need replacing first (check here for more information about smart meters)
• you choose your own electricity company. Some apartment buildings, retirement villages and caravan parks buy power in bulk and sell it on to residents. If that's you, you can't switch retailer, so you can't take up the offer

Who gets the most out of Solar Sharer?

The saving depends on what appliances you have and how much you can move into the free hours.

Households that can run the dishwasher, washing machine, pool pump, electric hot water, or car charger in the middle of the day do the best.

It's not necessarily right for everyone. For example, if your hot water and heating use more expensive gas appliances, then the opportunity to save is more limited. We've built tool that assesses whether you would benefit from a switch — it takes about a minute.

Is every Solar Sharer plan the same?

No.

The Solar Sharer Offer determines the minimum that retailers must offer you — 3 hours of free electricity in the middle of the day.

However, certain retailers might choose to offer better deals, such as extra free hours, higher usage caps, or lower peak rates. As always, it's worth shopping around.

How to switch

You take the offer through an electricity retailer. Every retailer in your region should offer a Solar Sharer plan. Remember, the plans aren't all the same, so compare the whole deal, not just the free hours.

Before you ring anyone, check whether it's worth it for you. Our check takes about a minute, and it'll tell you whether you're likely to be better off, about the same, or worse off.

We don't sell electricity plans, and we don't get paid when you switch.

Check if you'd be better off →